lemassena



T. P. LBMASSENA.

TOP PROP.

Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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, molded.

NTTE ETETEE PATENT EEreEO THEODORE F. LEMASSENA, OF NEWARK, NEV JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO LILLIAN LEMASSENA, OF SAME PLACE.

TOP-PROP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314.-,587, dated March3l, 1885.

Application filed September l5, i884. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THEO. F. LnirissnNA, a citizen of the United States,residing in Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Paper Top-Props, fully described andrepresented in the following specification and accompanying drawings,forming a part of the same.

rI'his invention consists, first, in a top-prop formed of paper pulp or.vegetable fibers united by suitable cement; and, secondly, in amodification of the same mixed with rubber cement and then vulcanized,so as to form a partly-elastic composition.

The composition of which I form the prop consists of paper-pulp or anyequivalent vegetable fibers mixed with suitable cement-as glue,inucilage, dissolved india rubber, or copal varnish-and is pressed tothe desired form in a mold, so that the article is made by a very simpleprocess, and is ready for use when dried and coated with any desirablepaint, Varnish, or japan.

In the drawings annexed, Figure lis an end view, and Fig. 2 a side view,of a top-prop representing my invention; and Figs. 3 and 4. arerespectively aplan and vertical section of a mold for making such prop.

A is the body of the prop, B the central hole by which the same issecured on the stud at the carriage-side, and C the seat which receivesthe impact of the carriage-bows. D is the mold, E the follower, and F acentral pin to form the hole B.

The composition is placed in the mold around the pin F in sufficientquantity to form a top-prop of the desired length, when compressed, andthe follower is placed over the pin and forced into the mold until therequired consolidation of the mass is produced. If desired, thefollowermay be formed with a collar, as F', adapted to strike the top of themold at a fixed point, and thus secure uniformity in the length of theprops when The mold is preferably greased before using,to prevent theglue, paste, or composition from adhering to the sides of the mold, andthe bottom of the mold may be made loose, as shown in Fig, 3, so as toadmit of its removal and the forcing of the prop from the mold whenpressed. The mold may also be made to divide longitudinally, so as toremove the props more easily when tightly pressed therein. In some casesI niix a small proportion of powdered plaster of paris, earthywhitening, or similar mineral powder to the composition just beforemolding to promote the handling of the same. Such admiX- ture not onlystiffens the composition and renders it easier to handle and mold, buthas tens the hardening of the article when molded. The longitudinalridge or seat usually provided upon the top of the prop at G to receivethe wear and pressure of the carriage bows may be formed in t-he mold ofthe same composition as the body A; but I have shown lherein a method ofcombining an india-rubber seat with the upper side ofthe prop by fornring a dovetail tongue and groove, G', in the prop and upon the underside of the rubber seat, by which means the seat can be formed apartfrom the body of the prop and conveniently secured thereto. In suchconstruction the inold is formed with a tongue, G', as shown in Fig. et,and the prop is thus formed with a dovetail groove, into which acorresponding tongue upon the rubber seat is forced lengthwise. r

The rubber seats are molded and vulcanizedin the manner common withindia-rubber, and with a tongue adapted to closely lit the groove in theprop, into which it may also b e cemented, if required. The top of theseat is shown tluted in Fig. 1, which gives an orna mental appearance.

In lieu of the separate rubber seat, the composition may be formed witha considerable proportion of rubber cement in its texture, and a generalelasticity be thus imparted ^to the whole body of the prop, so as torender it more elastic and durable when in use. Such a prop would bebaked in a heated oven, to vulcanize the indiarubber, and the latter bethereby greatly improved in its hardness and durability.

The materials and process of manufacture ,described herein areexceedingly simple and inexpensive, and enable me to produce a yeryexcellent article at a very low cost.

The props, when thoroughly dried, are painted, varnished, or japanned,to protect them from wear and dampness; but such coat- IOC ing I do notclaim, as the same has been heretofore applied to other props.

I am aware of. the state of the art shown in United States Patents Nos.213,129 and 67,371, and that I cannot make specific claim to an elasticstrip secured upon the upper side of a top-prop, or to the use of paperas a mere core for a rubber cover; but I am not aware that the body ofthe top-prop has ever been formed entirely of paper, as I havedescribed, and I therefore claim my construction in the followingmanner:

l. The top-prop herein shown and described, and formed of paper-pulpunited by cement,

and molded to form, substantially as and for I5 the purpose set forth.

2. The top-prop herein shown and described, and formed of paper-pulpunited by ndiarubber cement, and molded to forn1,'and then 6vulcanized,substantially as and for the pur-A pose set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THEODORE F. LEMASSENA. Witnesses:

IHos. S. CRANE, L. LEE.

